U-boat Commands

Hans-Joachim Horrer joined the German Navy (Reichsmarine) in 1932 and went through the usual officer training. He was a Gunnery Officer and Watch Officer on the destroyer Z 9 Wolfgang Zenker from July 1938 to April 1940 when the destroyer was sunk during the fierce battles of Narvik, Norway.

Horrer then started his U-boat officer training which lasted from July 1940 to January 1941. He was then assigned to the almost completed type VIICU-555 as Baubelehrung commander on Jan 18, then taking command of the boat upon commission on Jan 30, 1941. He served on the boat until 25 Aug, 1941 but never went on patrol.

He again served as Baubelehrung commander with the 8. KLA from 26 Aug to 24 Sept. He then took command of the new type VIIC boat U-589. He went on 8 patrols with the boat and was lost with his entire crew when the boat was sunk south-west of Spitzbergen on 14 Sep 1942.